Buyer’s Guide

The 4 C’s

Even though two sparkling, beautiful Diamonds may look the same to your naked eye, they likely are not created equal. Welcome to the 4 Cs. Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. Stevens Jewelers strictly adheres to the demanding standards of the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A). The Four Cs, observed under magnification, can help you strike the right balance of quality and value when buying your next diamond.

Cut

The most popular diamond shapes are Round, Princess, Cushion, Marquise, and Oval. Regardless of shape, the finer the cut the better the diamond refracts and reflects light and thus better showcases its sparkle. Stevens’ consultants can help you choose the cut and shape that is right for your mounting.

Color

Diamonds are created under intense pressure and heat. Elements present during that process helps give diamonds various tinges of color. Some are absent of color, others are increasingly yellow. Under magnification, the G.I.A. D (colorless) to Z (yellow) Grading scale helps determine a diamond’s value.

Clarity

Nearly every diamond is born with certain internal characteristics known as inclusions. The size and number of inclusions helps determine the value of a diamond. The G.I.A. 12 point Clarity Grading rates diamonds on a scale from Flawless to Imperfect. The best method to observe a diamond’s clarity is through magnification.

Carat Weight

Carat Weight is probably the easiest of the Four Cs to understand. Who wouldn’t be awed by a 3 carat diamond? Truthfully though, the size and weight of the diamond is no more important than the other three Cs. All four in concert affect the value of a diamond. There are 100 points to a carat. Thus 25 points is a .25 carat or one quarter carat and so on.